New Hamburg cultural hub invites Canadians to connect With Ukrainian newcomers

Students from a local Woolwich neighbourhood participate in Taste of Ukraine as they work together to make a traditional Ukrainian meal at a recent event. Contributed photo

By Amanda Modaragamage

Grassroots Response to the Ukrainian Crisis is hosting cultural gatherings at its Ukrainian Cultural Hub in New Hamburg.

These events are meant for Canadians who want to learn more about the Ukrainian lifestyle and share their own experiences as Canadians. Olga Strasburger, marketing and donor relations coordinator, says hundreds of Ukrainian newcomers have chosen the Waterloo region as their new home, and for them, building friendships in their community is as important as finding housing or work.

“We are trying to connect with the New Hamburg community because for Ukrainians, this is just as important as finding housing in Canada,” said Strasburger. “We need these community connections. We want to learn how to be involved in our Canadian community and we can do this by sharing our stories and our culture. Then, Canadians can share their stories and their culture with us. We like to see it as a cultural exchange.”

Grassroots Response to the Ukrainian Crisis aims to foster cultural exchange between Ukrainians and Canadians through shared meals, art workshops and Ukrainian history sessions. The aim is to help connect Canadians and Ukrainian newcomers through sharing food, stories and traditions.

The hub has been operating for three months, offering events like Taste of Ukraine, where traditional dishes are shared, and art workshops led by local Ukrainian artists.

“Food is one of the most powerful ways to understand another culture,” said Strasburger. “At the Taste of Ukraine event, we cook our traditional beetroot soup together. We also make pierogi with potato and mushroom filling, which is another one of our main meals from Ukraine. We also make Napoleon, which is like a cake filled with lots of layers of cream and pastry.”

Individuals are welcome to attend any of the events listed on the website. Businesses, churches, or community groups are also welcome to sign up for the events at the New Hamburg Guest House.

“Newcomers want to learn about you – Canadian culture, local traditions and community life. At the same time, you’ll hear about their journeys – what it means to restart work, family life and community in Canada after leaving everything behind,” said Strasburger.

These conversations create friendships that make Canada feel like home for newcomers, while giving Canadians a deeper understanding of resilience, hope and the challenges of settling.

Participation in any of the events is free, however donations are welcome. Learn more and register for upcoming sessions at wrgrassrootsresponse.ca.